Multi-player music game

Abstract

A video game allows dynamic transitions in the number of players. A player may join other players already playing the game without interrupting the play of the existing players, and a player may cease playing the game without interrupting the play of players who continue playing. The video game uses a method including providing game play for at least one game player including displaying video information based on game program instructions and inputs from a controller. The method also includes determining whether a further player is joining the video game, and if the further player is joining the video game, displaying player specific information associated with the further player to the video information. The method also includes determining whether a player is quitting the video game, and if the player is quitting the video game, removing display of the player specific information associated with the player.

1. A method of providing for video game play of a music-based video game, including in-game transitioning between one player playing the video game and two or more players playing the video game during a presentation of a music piece, the method comprising:
 providing game play for at least one game player, including commanding presentation of a timed sequence of audio and video information corresponding to the music piece for the at least one game player based on game program instructions and inputs from at least one controller associated with the at least one game player; 
 determining whether a further player is joining the video game during the music piece based on at least an input signal from a further controller, the further controller not already associated with the at least one game player; 
 if the further player is joining the video game during the music piece, providing game play for the at least one game player and the further player without disruption of the music piece, including commanding presentation of a timed sequence of audio and video information corresponding to the music piece for the at least one game player and the further player based on the game program instructions and inputs from the at least one controller and the further controller; 
 determining whether a particular player is quitting the video game during the music piece, the particular player being one of the at least one game player or the further player; and 
 if the particular player is quitting the video game during the music piece, commanding presentation of the timed sequence of audio and video information for the at least one game player and the further player without audio and video information for the particular player, and without disruption of the music piece. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, if the further player is joining the video game, determining a game character to be associated with the further player. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, if the further player is joining the video game: determining options for game play for the further player. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein commanding presentation of a timed sequence of audio and video information for the at least one player comprises:
 commanding display of instructive cues for operation of the at least one controller, 
 commanding display of performance feedback based on compliance with the instructive cues based on inputs from the at least one controller. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising adjusting a score for the at least one game player based on compliance with the instructive cues. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein commanding presentation of a timed sequence of audio and video information for the at least one player comprises:
 adjusting volume of a music track associated with the at least one game player based on compliance with the instructive cues. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, if the particular player is quitting the video game, adjusting the volume of the music track associated with the particular player to a predetermined level. 
     
     
       8. Machine readable media for a music-based video game, the machine readable media including program instructions for execution by at least one processor, the program instructions including program instructions for:
 commanding display of a first set of instructive cues, the first set of instructive cues corresponding to a first track of a musical piece and providing instruction to a first player of actions to be performed via a first game controller; 
 determining extent of compliance with the first set of instructive cues based on inputs received from the first game controller; 
 determining receipt of an indication of a request from a second game controller to join the video game during display of the first set of instructive cues, the second game controller not already associated with a game player currently playing the video game, the indication of request including at least an input signal from the second game controller; 
 commanding display of a second set of instructive cues while continuing to command display of the first set of instructive cues, the second set of instructive cues corresponding to a second track of the musical piece and providing instruction to a second player of actions to be performed via the second game controller; and 
 determining extent of compliance with the second set of instructive cues based on inputs received from the second game controller. 
 
     
     
       9. The machine readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the program instructions further include program instructions for:
 commanding presentation of audio for a portion of the musical piece for compliance with each instructive cue of the first set of instructive cues; 
 commanding presentation of audio for another portion of the musical piece for compliance with instructive cue of the second set of instructive cues. 
 
     
     
       10. The machine readable media of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the musical piece is a portion of the musical piece for a first musical instrument, and the other portion of the musical piece is a portion of the musical piece for a second musical instrument. 
     
     
       11. The machine readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the program instructions further include program instructions for:
 determining receipt of an indication from the second game controller to leave the video game during display of the second set of instructive cues; and 
 ceasing determining extent of compliance with the second set of instructive cues while continuing to determine extent of compliance with the first set of instructive cues. 
 
     
     
       12. The machine readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the program instructions further include program instructions for:
 ceasing commanding display of the second set of instructive cues while continuing to command display of the first set of instructive cues.